Panama received $750,000 for participating in the World Baseball Classic. Of that sum, $375,000 was allocated to player payments, and the remaining $375,000 remained in the federation's possession. However, the Panamanian state had to spend over half a million dollars to cover the national team's preparation and representation. “Where is the money going?” asked Panama Institute of Sports (Pandeportes) Director Miguel Ordóñez. Panama's national team competed in Group A in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Provincial Leagues: Working 'with their nails' While the central federation centralizes ticket sales and international prize money, provincial leagues face a suffocating reality. Deputy Augusto Palacios stated that a competitive roster for the major championship costs a minimum of $100,000, while a full season can represent expenses exceeding $300,000 in transportation, food, and lodging. To survive, added the deputy for circuit 4-1 (Chiriquí), leagues must 'scrape' by resources through the leasing of kiosks, boxes, and the sale of beverages inside stadiums, as they have been stripped of their share in ticket sales. Demand for Oversight Ordóñez insisted that the patronage model must change so that “every dollar received by the patronage must be audited by the state,” including income from self-management (ticket sales, advertising, rentals), something that currently does not happen in stadiums like Rod Carew. The Robinson Hegemony The president of Fedebeis is Jaime Robinson, son of Bocas del Toro deputy Benicio Robinson, president of the Democratic Revolutionary Party. The perredista politician has controlled the federation for years. Proof of this is that Robinson replaced his father, who was at the helm of this federation for the last two terms (eight years). Robinson father was elected president of Fedebeis in 2015 and was re-elected in December 2018. The head of Fedebeis has as vice president another 'dolphin' from the world of federations: Franz Wever Jr., son of Franz Wever, former deputy and former Secretary of the National Assembly. According to what Deputy Augusto Palacios of Vamos denounced, in the current major championship, 100% of ticket sales go directly to the coffers of Fedebeis, without the provincial leagues receiving 'a single cent' of this collection. Pandeportes Director Miguel Ordóñez also provided other data on the funds managed by Fedebeis. 'Because it's not in Pandeportes,' Ordóñez questioned the plenum. The 2026 World Baseball Classic was held from March 5 to 17 of this year, with venues in Houston, Miami, San Juan, and Tokyo.
